Human Nutrition: Micronutrients and Vegetarian Diet

Human Nutrition: Micronutrients and Vegetarian Diet

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are the nutrients that are required only in minute quantities to fulfill the human body requirements. The function of the micronutrients is to assist and enable the human body in the production of substances essential for growth and development such as enzymes, vitamins, organic compound, trace elements, hormones, etc. Any deficiency of these micronutrients can render severe adverse effects (WHO, 2013).

Examples of Micronutrients

Macro minerals

Organic acids

Trace Minerals

Zinc

Acetic Acid

Copper

Iron

Taurine

Selenium

Magnesium

Lactic Acid

Fluoride

Chloride

Choline

Iodine

Sulphur

Malic acid

Chromium

Phosphorus

Citric Acid

Manganese

Calcium

Boron

Types of vegetarian diets

Essentially there are four main types of Vegetarian Diets.

Lacto-Vegetarian Diet:

This diet incorporates the use ...